Theft detector for automobiles



May l, 123.

J. J. WHCIHLSIKI THEFT DETECTOR FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed March 17, 1922 lllatentetl llllay ll, ttul u ne r rr i f To aZZ whom 'it may concer/n: i

Be it knovvn that ll, JosnrH J. lrlliormnsiri', a citizen ot the United States, residing in Buffalo, in the county ot Erie and State oli' New York, have invented .new and useitul improvements in Theft Detectors tor nuto-- mobiles, of which the following is a specifiA cation. 4

This invention relates to a detector or identifying device for protecting automobiles and similar vehicles trom thett,

lts object .is to provide a simple and inexpensive device of this character by Which police otlicers and others may readily detect Whether or not the vehicle is being driven by the owner or by some unauthorized person. ln the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation ot an automobile showing' my improvement applied thereto with. the detecting member in position. Figure Q, is an enlarged vertical transverse section on line 2 2, Fig. 1.. Figure 3 is a v ievv, similar to Fig. 2, but showing the detecting member removed. Figures l and 5 are horizontal sections on the correspondingly numbered lines in Fig. 3. Figure 6 is an clarged tace view o1 the improvement with the detecting member removed. Figure 'l' is a perspective view oi the removable detecting member.

Similar characters ot' reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.

1n the drawings, the improvement iS. shown as applied to the side ot an automobile 10, although it may be located in any other convenient place Whereit is `conspicuous and clearlyvisible.

The detecting device preferably comprises a box-like or doublewvalled member including a substantially rectangular rear `.vallor back plate 11 constructed ot aluminum or other appropriate material and a transparent tront viva-ll or plate 12 connected to said rear Wall by a suitable marginal trame 13. `The rear Wall of this member is fastened to the automobile body preferably by hinges 14e to permit the detecting device to swing vertically to a position substantially as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. rlhe trent Wall 12 is preferably ot prism-like form, its front side sloping in opposite directions and meeting substantially midway ot its length, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. in outwardly-facing recess or pocket 15 ot any suitable shape is provided in the rear vvall 11, said pocket being preferably disposed directly in rear oit and substantially in line with the apex of the sloping` tront Wall. 'llhe Yirontl'ace 16 of the rear Wall and the corresponding :tace 17 of the pocket 15 is provided With a colored coating or surface such, lor eirample, as red which forms a bright and conspicuous background clearly visible through the transparent front Wall 12.

The pocket is provided in one ot its sides, preferably its top, With an opening 18, While the opposing or bottom side is closed, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and d. Rcmovably arranged in this pocket to overlie the background 17 thereof, is a detecting or identity ing member 19 which may be constructed ot any suitable material, but preferably one having a highly linished reflecting surface, such as a mirror, and of any appropriate color, for example, White, which contrasts with the red background 16 of the rear vvall 11. When placed in the pocket through the opening 18, the detectingl member covers the background ot said pocket and is visible through the transparent iront Wall 12, the same standing out effectively against the surrounding background ot the rear Wall. Upon the removal of said detecting member from its pocket, the background oil the latter is uncovered and together with the surrounding background of the rear Wall 11 forms a continuous and uniformly colored ground visible through the transparent :front vvall.

To facilitate the insertion and removal of the detecting member trom` its pocket 15, it may be provided with a linger piece 20, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7.

llFhe lower end ot the detecting device is provided with a key-operated or other suitable lock 21, for locking the same to the body ot the automobile and preventing access thereto, except by authorized persons.

The detecting members of ditl'erent automobiles are made to vary, so that each of such members tits only the corresponding opening in the pocket 15, rendering it impossible for unauthorized persons to practice deception by the use of similar detecting members. lin. the example shown in the drawings, the detecting member is corrugated or of irregular form in cross section and the pocket opening 18 is of corresponding shape to receive said member.

ln the use ot this device, when the owner or other authorized Vperson occupies or drives the automobile, he sees to it that the detecting member 19 is located in its pocket lili CII

and that the device is locked in position, as shown by full lines in Fig. 2. In this position, the detecting member stands out conspicuously against the contrasting ground 16, serving as an indication to patrolmen and others that the vehicle is under the control of, an authorized person. Then the car is left standing or parked, the owner un-V locks the device, swings it to the position Shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. and removes the detecting member "from its pocket, keeping it in his possession, after which he locks said device, leaving nothing but the red background of the rear wall 11 and the pocket l5 exposed to view. In this position of the device, shown in Fig. 6, the same indicates that the owner has left the ear unoccupied. Should the car be traveling along lthe streets with the continuous red background completely exposed, that circumstance will naturally arouse the suspicion that the vehicle is being stolen, and patrolmen and others can therefore promptly arrest the thief.

The provision of the oppositely-sloping rontvsides of the transparent wall 12 renders it practically impossible to simulate the reecting surface of the detecting member 19 by pasting a strip of paper or the like over the outer side or said wall.

While affording the effective protection against the theft ot' automobiles, this improved detector is composed of but lew parts, it is neat in appearance and it can be readily installed on vehicles Without altering their construction.

I claim as my invention:

l. A theft detector of the character described, comprising a box-like member adapted for attachment to a vehicle to move relatively thereto, the front ivall of said member being provided with a transparent portion and its rear wall with a pocket facing said transparent portion and having an opening` accessible from the back side ot said rear Wall, the exposed face of said pocket having a colored area visible through said transparent portion, a detecting member of a contrasting color arranged to normally overlie the colored area of said pocket, and means for locking said box-like member in its normal position, whereby said detecting member is inaccessible in such position.

2. A theft detector of the character described, comprising a support, a doublevcalled member mounted on said support to nieve relatively thereto, the front wall ot said member beingtransparent and its rear wall provided with a characteristic ground visible through said transparent front wall, and a movable detecting member applied to the rear wall of said member in co-operative relation to its background and visible through said transparent iront wall.

A theft detector of the character described, comprising a support. a doublewalled member mounted on said support to move relatively thereto, the lront wall ot said member being transparent and its rear wall provided with a characteristic ground visible through said transparent front wall.` a ren'iovable detecting member arranged between the :trent and rear walls of said member and visible through the front wall thereof, and means for locking said first named movable member in its normal position, whereby said detecting` member is accessible only in the abnormal position of said member.

d. A theft detector of the character described, comprising al support, a double walled member mounted on said support, the front wall ot said member being transparent and its rear wall provided with a pocket racing said front wall, the exposed faces of said rear wall and said pocket being oi the same characteristic nature, and a detecting member of a contrasting characteristic nature removably arranged in said pocket and normally covering the exposed iface oit said pocket.

5. A thel't detector of the character de` scribed, comprising a support, a doublewalled member mounted on said support, the front' wall of said member being trans parent and its rear wall provided with a pocket facing said trout wall and having au opening therein accessible from the inner side ot said rear wall.,` the exposed faces of said rear wall and said pocket being ot the same characteristic nature, and a detecting member 'of a contrasting charzuctcristic nature removably arranged in said pocket and normally covering the exposed tace of said pocket.

JOSEPH J. MICHALSKI. 

